Corals for Beginners

[Pamela]

I'm looking for advice on what might be some super choices for my very first coral. Here's the link for what LiveAquaria offers for beginners -- http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=597+2856

Would some of you be willing to hop on over there and give your opinions on whether those really and truly are good beginner's choices, and of them what might be the best choice of all? I would like something that's a pretty color, but also quite hardy and forgiving. I've got many years of freshwater experience, but saltwater is brand new to me. I want to have a good idea of what would be a smart choice when I'm ready. Thanks so much!

 

[andyg1960]

Mushrooms are really easy. Come in lots of colors. Zoas as well. Green star polyps, Kenya tree. Some of the leathers. Those are the most forgiving and good starters.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm looking for advice on what might be some super choices for my very first coral. Here's the link for what LiveAquaria offers for beginners -- http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=597+2856

Would some of you be willing to hop on over there and give your opinions on whether those really and truly are good beginner's choices, and of them what might be the best choice of all? I would like something that's a pretty color, but also quite hardy and forgiving. I've got many years of freshwater experience, but saltwater is brand new to me. I want to have a good idea of what would be a smart choice when I'm ready. Thanks so much!

May I ask how old the tank is and what lights you have. Itll hep.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would say except for the sps listed all other corals are fine for new hobbyist.

 

[Pamela]

May I ask how old the tank is and what lights you have. Itll hep.

My 55g is 31 days old and I have LED lights. I'm not rushing to put corals in tomorrow, but want to start getting an idea of what I will be looking for when the time is right.

 

[Pamela]

Mushrooms are really easy. Come in lots of colors. Zoas as well. Green star polyps, Kenya tree. Some of the leathers. Those are the most forgiving and good starters.

Thank you!

 

[Pamela]

I would say except for the sps listed all other corals are fine for new hobbyist.

Thanks!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My 55g is 31 days old and I have LED lights. I'm not rushing to put corals in tomorrow, but want to start getting an idea of what I will be looking for when the time is right.

Yup good. It's just easier to suggest based on I those two things. What kind of LED light if I may.
My usual suggestion is what do you like. Look for corals in that type and kind. It's your reef make it yours and look for kids that catch your eye. Some of course may have to wait a bit but that's Reefing .
Mushrooms yes I think most of those are really nice and are easy color pops and can be found very cheap. Easy SPS to try are Tyree pPonape birds nest ...very very very easy coral. An SPS actually. I don't like Kenya. Purp Poclophora are good too. Some common Zoas are quite hardy. Poly too. The first starter pack had some nice diversity w the yellow poly. And shrooms. Stay away form the red plain thin looking red mushrooms. They are like Xenia and can take over. Xenia are nice too but you have to trim them. Have too.
You'll notice I say cheap a lot ...it's because that's the best starter coral. A Xenia may grow in your tank. But not my mine. It's weird. Same for many coral. If it's a healthy coral And your tanks not ready it'll tell you.

 

[jsker]

I started with liveaquaria beginner corals. I still have the mushroom, and the mushroom are tuff. I have also had good fortune with monti's

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have these tyree I have not been able to kill no matter what has happend. have three colonies now by auto fragging, biggest is a bigger than a golf ball now

 

[Pamela]

Yup good. It's just easier to suggest based on I those two things. What kind of LED light if I may.
My usual suggestion is what do you like. Look for corals in that type and kind. It's your reef make it yours and look for kids that catch your eye. Some of course may have to wait a bit but that's Reefing .
Mushrooms yes I think most of those are really nice and are easy color pops and can be found very cheap. Easy SPS to try are Tyree pPonape birds nest ...very very very easy coral. An SPS actually. I don't like Kenya. Purp Poclophora are good too. Some common Zoas are quite hardy. Poly too. The first starter pack had some nice diversity w the yellow poly. And shrooms. Stay away form the red plain thin looking red mushrooms. They are like Xenia and can take over. Xenia are nice too but you have to trim them. Have too.
You'll notice I say cheap a lot ...it's because that's the best starter coral. A Xenia may grow in your tank. But not my mine. It's weird. Same for many coral. If it's a healthy coral And your tanks not ready it'll tell you.

I admit that I feel overwhelmed. This is so sooooooooooo much more than freshwater aquaria! I'm a moderately smart person, so I think I'll ultimately catch on, but right now I may as well be reading Japanese. I will look more closely at each of your suggestions. Sounds like mushrooms are the right starting point for me.

As for the LED light, uhhh, I dunno. It stretches across the width of my standard 55g tank and says National Geographic on the top. It has 2 long light strips with many individual tiny lights and has a switch for bright white lights and a switch for blue lights. It is ever and ever so much nicer than the hood light assembly I used to have when it was a freshwater aquarium. (Incidentally, I bought new LED light fixtures for my 120g freshwater tank as soon as I saw how wonderful the LED lights are. The difference is WOW!)

 

[Pamela]

I started with liveaquaria beginner corals. I still have the mushroom, and the mushroom are tuff. I have also had good fortune with monti's

Thanks for your input. I truly appreciate it! Looks like I will be starting with mushrooms!

 

[pdt7361]

Take a look at some of the leather corals....especially something like a pin cushion leather. It provides some excellent color and movement in your tank. I'd also recommend a cup coral, some colorful zoas, and a frogspawn or torch.

 

[Tateopotatoe]

Take a look at some of the leather corals....especially something like a pin cushion leather. It provides some excellent color and movement in your tank. I'd also recommend a cup coral, some colorful zoas, and a frogspawn or torch.

Agree with everything accept for zoas. People claim they're easy, but there are so many pests and diseases they can get. Additionally, you can get poisoned if you don't handle them correctly.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Those lights may not be adequit.

Of all the things you buy, when having corals. The thing they rely on in a big way is lighting. Dont cheap out. Save up if you cant afford immediatley but i cant stress enough how important good lighting is.

 

[morpheas]

We had a similar discussion a few weeks ago, you can get some ideas from there also https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/easy-coarl-to-care-for.246021/#post-2887344

 

[JackDE]

I found some free kenya tree on craigslist as my first coral. It's been in my tank for a week and a half. So far so good

 

[Pamela]

Those lights may not be adequit.

Of all the things you buy, when having corals. The thing they rely on in a big way is lighting. Dont cheap out. Save up if you cant afford immediatley but i cant stress enough how important good lighting is.

So what lighting, exactly, is recommended?

 

[Pamela]

We had a similar discussion a few weeks ago, you can get some ideas from there also https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/easy-coarl-to-care-for.246021/#post-2887344

Thanks for this link. I read through it.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Depends on how you want to go. T5, led, metal halided.... look up reef lighting... kessils and radions are the big thing for l.e.d. lights. I can tell you my knowlege of leds is limited, i run halides. But for coverage on a 55 could be several hundred bucks. The nat geo from what i am reading is a freshwater only light ... anyone have more input on this?